EQUESTRIAN: Doel is U21 champion (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

EQUESTRIAN: Doel is U21 champion

2:10pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in Sport

REYBRIDGE rider David Doel clinched victory at British Eventing’s U21 two-star Festival of Youth competition at Weston Park.

Thirty of the best British and European riders entered the competition and Doel, riding Koyuna Sun Magic, led after dressage with a score of 45, while his second horse Ricoshea was on 46.

He took both horses clear on cross-country, Ricoshea with nine time penalties and had just one showjump pole down to finish ahead of Germany’s Franzica Keinki, riding Lancaster 149. Ricoshea was fourth.

Doel said: “He (Koyuna Sun Magic) was awesome and went so well throughout the week.

“He pulled me the whole way around the cross country and really motored.

“It has been tough to pick myself up after the Young Rider Europeans which didn’t go to plan, so coming here and being so successful at Weston has been fantastic.”

Doel also recently won the 2012 Connolly Red Mills Open Intermediate U21 league on the horse, which is owned by family and friends.

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